One-to-one therapy
Unfortunately I’m unable to take on new clients for one-to-one therapy at the moment and my waiting list is closed. You are welcome to join one of my group courses during the school terms. Alternatively, I can recommend these psychologists and therapists.
Parenting
Parenting can be both a joy and hard work.
Sometimes, things get in the way of us being the parents we want to be – including our own thoughts and feelings. These can be about ourselves, our children, our parenting, or what others think about our parenting.
We start parenting guided mostly by our own experience of being parented – and with a determination to replicate or not replicate our parents’ parenting. But we become parents in a different time from when we grew up. And our children are not us – they are them! So we need to figure out how to be the best parent we can for our child now.
I use the best that science and art have taught me to help you become the parent you want to be. Sometimes it’s necessary for me to work directly with a child or teenager, but often the most effective way to help teenagers and children is to work with their parents. I can help you support your child/children, or help you address difficulties which are getting in the way of your parenting.
Parenting courses
If I don’t have space to work with you or your child individually or as a family, you could attend my parenting course for support and new ideas. These run during the school terms.
Trauma
When people experience trauma and abuse without adequate support at the time, the experience can become a burden they carry until they find the time, story, person, place, experience, or book that helps them understand and resolve what happened, and to settle the trauma’s after-effects.
Unresolved trauma can shape how we see ourselves and the world, and how we interact with ourselves and the world. With support, everyone can resolve the effects of trauma. Healing can happen when our experiences are witnessed and validated by someone, and by using exposure therapies. When I’m working with the effects of trauma I use Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) alongside ACT and CFT.
If your current challenges are the result of sexual abuse that you experienced in Aotearoa, ACC may fund your sessions with me.
Being human, being yourself
Sometimes life is more difficult than we expect.
It’s easy to be wounded by things that happen to us and sometimes it’s hard to be ourselves. Finding the courage to face our challenges is the first step.
I can help you if:
- You’d like to carry your thoughts and feelings more gently while you pursue the life you want.
- You need support to learn how to be compassionate towards yourself and your own experiences.
- You need to work out what you want to stand for and which direction you want to move in.
- You’re living your life at a frenzied pace that’s leaving you frazzled and stressed.
- You’re feeling completely overwhelmed by your day-to-day responsibilities.
My fees for one-to-one therapy
$180+GST per 60-minute session
($200+GST per 60-minute session commissioned by institutions or third parties)
At least 24 hours’ notice of cancellation is required, or you will need to pay the full fee.
Note: I am registered with ACC as a provider of ISSC services.
Common Questions
I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?
It’s normal to feel nervous about meeting a psychologist. It can be hard to talk about your feelings out loud and to ask for help with our challenges and burdens.
Therapy is a place to be yourself. You can come just as you are, bringing all your thoughts and feelings with you. Most people find this settles quickly after we meet.
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
Take your time to explore my website. If you think I might be a good fit but you need to know more, you can always email me.
First sessions are like an experiment. You’ll be able to see what it’s like to work with me and tell me what’s troubling you. Together we can work out how I can best help you. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who is the right fit for you. If my approach doesn’t suit you, I can recommend some other psychologists I know.
What if I don't want to talk about something?
It’s up to you what we talk about. It can feel hard to talk about painful things and it’s normal to take time to share your story with someone you don’t know. But then again, talking about painful things can make your life easier. Together we’ll work out how to pace our work together so that it feels manageable for you.
It helps to tell me if you feel nervous about something because then we can talk about that too. You are welcome to share any feeling, including your feelings about how you feel!
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
You might worry that something you say in therapy could be shared with other people. I highly respect your privacy and value your trust so you can tell me anything without fear of that information being shared. Unless someone is in danger, whatever you tell me is totally private and confidential. If you have specific questions about confidentiality, please let me know.
How long will therapy take?
Any session, including the first session, is for one hour. We can decide together how often to meet. Meeting weekly means we can keep up the momentum. Meeting fortnightly or monthly allows more time in between for you to practice the ideas we’ve talked about in a previous session.
It’s difficult to predict how many sessions of therapy anyone will need. The complexity of your situation, how long you’ve experienced a difficulty, your goals and other factors can all impact how many sessions will be most helpful. Some of my clients find that 3 to 6 sessions are enough, while others choose longer-term therapy.
What can I expect during the first session?
You can think of the first session as a chance for us to meet each other. Once I understand what you’d like help with, I can explain how I can help. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself. We can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for you in the past. You can ask me questions at any time. You might be curious about my experience or how future sessions might work.
The most important part of the first session is to experience what therapy is like with me. I hope you will feel welcome, accepted, and understood. Then you can decide if you’d like to meet again.
What’s the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Psychologists study at university for six to nine years, specialising in behavioural science. Clinical psychologists have had specialist training in how people’s feelings, actions, thoughts, experiences and contexts affect how they live and the struggles they have.
Psychiatrists train first as doctors and then complete extra training in mental health. Psychiatrists are not trained to undertake cognitive assessments. In Aotearoa psychiatrists tend to focus on prescribing medication.
How long is a session?
Sessions are up to one hour long unless we agree on different amount of time.
Do I need a referral from my doctor to see a psychologist?
No, you don’t need a referral, but it can be helpful to tell your doctor that you’re working with me if you’ve discussed these difficulties with them.
What happens if I need to cancel a session?
Sometimes you might need to change appointments. If you give me 24 hours’ notice, you won’t need to pay the fee. If you cancel your appointment within 24 hours, or fail to attend an appointment, you will still need to pay the full fee.